Synthesis of waterborne acrylic/clay nanocomposites by controlled surface initiation from macroinitiator modified montmorillonite

The nitroxide mediated controlled surface initiated polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA)/butyl acrylate (n-BA) was carried out with a macroinitiator modified montmorillonite. The macroinitiator was synthesized by the nitroxide mediated polymerization of vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride (VBTMACl), methylmethacrylate (MMA) and styrene (S) at 90 °C using BlocBuilder®. The macroinitiator was exchanged with the sodium cations of the montmorillonite, to yield surface modified reactive montmorillonite. The bulk polymerizations of BA/MMA from the clay surface produced controlled molecular weight polymers that were able to exfoliate the clay. This controlled polymer/clay nanocomposite was used as masterbatch and further dispersed in monomers and miniemulsified to perform miniemulsion polymerization of BA/MMA (90/10 wt.%) at 30 wt.% solids content at low emulsifier concentration. The adhesive properties of the nanocomposites prepared with the masterbatch were proved to be better than those prepared with an organically modified clay.     

Copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of amides and potassium alkenyltrifluoroborate salts: a general approach to the synthesis of enamides

Potassium alkenyltrifluoroborate salts undergo coupling with amides to give enamides using a catalytic amount of Cu(OAc)₂ under mild oxidative conditions. The air and water stable alkenyltrifluoroborate salts offer a practical alternative to the use of alkenyl halides and alkenylboronic acids as cross-coupling partners. A range of amides participate in the cross-coupling, including heterocyclic amides, imides, carbamates, benzamides, and acetamides. Optimization studies established two sets of conditions, best suited to either high pK_a or low pK_a amide substrates. Lower pK_a amide substrates worked best using a dichloromethane solvent system in the presence of 4 Å molecular sieves, 10 mol % Cu(OAc)₂, and 20 mol % N-methylimidazole. Higher pK_a amide substrates worked best using a ‘ligandless’ protocol using a 1:1 dichloromethane/DMSO solvent system in the presence of 4 Å molecular sieves and 10 mol % Cu(OAc)₂. The cross-coupling reactions occur stereospecifically with retention of alkene configuration from the alkenyltrifluoroborate salt. The mild reaction conditions employed are tolerant of various functionalities, including nitro, acetals, alkyl and aryl halides, and α,β-unsaturated carbonyls. Finally, the importance of copper sources and the presence of minor impurities were investigated.     

On the stability and properties of the polyacrylate/Na-MMT nanocomposite obtained by seeded emulsion polymerization

For high performance waterborne coatings usually polymer latexes with low emulsifier content are more preferred. Although polymer/clay nanocomposites offer improved properties, it is difficult to produce clay based nanocomposite latexes containing low emulsifier due to the stabilization problems especially caused by organoclays. Present study deals with the preparation of a tBA/BA/MAA ternary copolymer/clay nanocomposite containing 3 wt.% sodium montmorillonite (Na⁺-MMT) via seeded emulsion polymerization. Experimentally it was observed that even the usage of hydrophilic clay caused stabilization problem and a certain amount of emulsifier (>1 wt.%) was necessary to obtain stable latexes. In addition, the usage of a low molecular weight water soluble polymer as steric barrier was found to increase the stability of system. Obtained nanocomposite latex showed fine particle size diameter (127 nm) and very narrow size distribution (PDI = 0.06). The WAXD and TEM investigations indicated that a mostly exfoliated nanocomposite was obtained. Thermal analyses (DSC, DMTA and TGA) showed that there was no change at T_g of the copolymer while very high improvement was obtained for elastic modulus and a slight increase in thermal stability. According to the rheological measurements, the nanocomposite latex showed a higher low shear viscosity, a stronger shear thinning behavior and an improved physical stability in comparison to the reference latex.     

Optoelectronic and nonlinear optical properties of tBu4PcTiO/polymer composite materials

The optoelectronic and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of a soluble 2,(3)-(tetra-tert-butylphthalocyaninato)titanium(IV) oxide (tBu₄PcTiO) in solutions and in the solid states have been described. The nonlinear response demonstrated that tBu₄PcTiO exhibited strong RSA at 532 nm for both solution and solid-state based experiments. The decrease in the effective intensity dependent nonlinear absorption coefficient with increasing input intensities possibly results from high order triple state transitions of the excited-state population. No evidence of film fatigue or degradation was observed in the PMMA/tBu₄PcTiO film, after numerous scans at varying laser intensity. The doping of tBu₄PcTiO into poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-p-phenylene-vinylene] (MEH-PPV) results in the apparent increases of the open circuit voltage (Voc) and the short circuit photocurrent density under illumination with 40 mW cm⁻² white-light. The light absorption of tBu₄PcTiO incorporated into polymer represents the dominant contribution to the enhancement of the photocurrent. The dependence of the short circuit photocurrent in an ITO/tBu₄PcTiO-doped MEH-PPV/Al cell on the incident light intensity (I_in) between 30 and 200 mW cm⁻² was also investigated.     

Coumarin salen-based zinc complex for solvent-free ring opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone

A new zinc complex based on a tetradentate N,N,O,O-type coumarin salen ligand (H₂L) was prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and FT-IR, UV–vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The complex [Zn(L)(H₂O)]·H₂O was active in the ring opening polymerization (ROP) of ε-caprolactone under solvent-free conditions, producing polycaprolactone (PCL) with a molecular weight up to 17,700 g mol^?1 and a narrow molecular weight distribution. ¹H NMR analysis showed that the PCL obtained was mainly linear, having hydroxymethylene groups in the chain ends. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the polymer had high crystallinity (61%) and that TGA had a decomposition temperature above 300 °C.     

Microwave-assisted nitroxide-mediated miniemulsion polymerization of styrene

Nitroxide-mediated free-radical miniemulsion polymerizations (NMRPs) of styrene were successfully performed under microwave irradiation at 135 °C. The polymerizations proceeded in a controlled manner, yielding polymers that showed an incremental increase in molecular weight with conversion and had narrow molecular weight distributions. The resulting latexes were colloidally stable. The polymerization behavior, molecular weights of polymers and Z-average size of latex particles were also investigated under two different heating methods, microwave irradiation and conventional heating.     

Molecular and vibrational structure of the extracellular bacterial signal compound N-butyryl-homoserine lactone (C4-HSL)

The molecular and vibrational structure of the title compound (C4-HSL) was studied by experimental and theoretical methods. The infrared (IR) absorption spectrum was measured in the solid state and in CCl₄ suspension. The observed absorption bands were compared with transitions obtained with B3LYP/cc-pVTZ density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Two stable molecular conformations were predicted, corresponding to an endo- and an exo-conformer with similar energies. Intermolecular amide–amide hydrogen bonding in the crystal state was approximated by a simple cluster model, leading to excellent agreement with the observed solid state IR spectrum. Due to the low solubility of C4-HSL in common solvents for IR spectroscopy, such as CS₂ and CCl₄, a liquid solution spectrum of pure, monomeric C4-HSL was not obtained. However, absorbance peaks observed in oversaturated CCl₄ solution could be assigned to distinct contributions from suspended micro-crystalline aggregates and dissolved monomeric species. The key vibrational bands of the monomeric form of C4-HSL are reported here for the first time: 3425 cm^?1 [ν(N–H)], 1784 cm^?1 [ν(CO), lactone], 1688 cm^?1 [amide I], and 1494 cm^?1 [amide II] (CCl₄).     

Effect of electron beam irradiation on the conduction phenomena of unplasticized PVC/PVA copolymer

The effect of electron beam irradiation on the conduction phenomenon of unplasticized PVC/PVA copolymer has been investigated. The current–voltage (J–V) characteristics in the voltage range 0.1–60 V were measured for films irradiated with different doses; 150, 550 and 1100 kGy. The temperature dependence of the J–V characteristics in the temperature range 303–343 K was obtained. The results indicated that the conduction as a function of the applied voltage depends on the presence of localized state or the trapping levels positioned at a specific energy E_t below the conduction band. Therefore, the charge carrier's concentration in the conduction band, trapping parameter θ, electron mobility μ_0, effective electron drift mobility μ_e as well as Fermi level energy E_f and trapping energy E_t were estimated as a function of dose.     

A new method of immobilizing ionic liquids into layered zirconium phosphates

In this work, a new method of a series of ion liquids (ILs) 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [Cnmim]Cl (n = 2, 4, 6, 8) intercalation into layered zirconium phosphates was investigated. It was found that theα-ZrP-2BA (i.e. pre-intercalated BA was arranged in a bilayer mode in the galleries ofα-ZrP) was a suitable host for intercalation ILs: ILs was inserted through exchanging pre-intercalated BA. And the intercalation orientation was investigated by use of X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments and molecular modeling calculation.     

Uranium(VI) bis(imido) disulfonamide and dihalide complexes: Synthesis density functional theory analysis

Novel cis- and trans-bis(imido) uranium disulfonamide derivatives have been prepared from iodide metathesis reactions between two equivalents of K[N(Me)(SO₂Ar’)] (Ar’ = 4-Me-C₆H₄) and U(N^tBu)₂(I)₂(L)_x (L = OPPh₃, x = 2; Me₂bpy, x = 1; Me₂bpy = 4,4’-dimethyl-2,2’-bipyridyl). These bis(amide) derivatives serve as useful precursors for the synthesis of the trans-diphenolate complex U(N^tBu)₂(O-2-^tBuC₆H₄)₂(OPPh₃)₂ (5), cis- and trans-dithiolate complexes U(N^tBu)₂(SPh)₂(L)_x (L = OPPh₃ (6); Me₂bpy (7)), and cis- and trans-dihalide complexes with the general formulas U(N^tBu)₂(X)₂(L)_x (X = Cl, L = OPPh₃ (8), L = Me₂bpy (10); X = Br, L = OPPh₃ (9), L = Me₂bpy (11)). DFT calculations performed on the trans-dihalide series U(N^tBu)₂(X)₂(L)₂ and the UO₂²⁺ analogues UO₂X₂(OPPh₃)₂ suggest that the uranium centers in the [U(N^tBu)₂]²⁺ ions possess more covalent character than analogous UO₂²⁺ derivatives but that the U-X bonds in the U(N^tBu)₂X₂L₂ complexes possess a more ionic nature.     

Spectral studies of Fe(III) complexes of dipodal tridentate chelating agents

The dipodal ligands (Im) and (BIm) as well as complexes [FeLCl₃] [L = Im (1) and BIm (2)] have been prepared and studied using spectroscopic techniques. The magnetic moment, IR, electronic (ligand field), FAB-mass and NMR spectral data indicate a hexa-coordinate geometry around high-spin state Fe³⁺ where the ligands coordinate as a tridentate [N,N,N] chelating agent. ⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectral data confirmed the presence of a ligand asymmetry around Fe³⁺ in a high-spin state electronic configuration (t_2g³,e_g², S = 5/2) with nuclear transition Fe(±3/2 → ±1/2) exhibiting Kramer's double degeneracy. The molecular computations provided the optimum energy perspective plots for the molecular geometries giving the important structural data.     

Enhancement of plant growth stimulation activity of irradiated alginate by fractionation

Alginate with the weight-average molecular weight (M_w) approximately 900 kDa and ratio of M (mannuronate)/G (guluronate) about 1.3 was irradiated by gamma Co-60 in aqueous solution at doses up to 200 kGy. The irradiation dose was shown to be a function for reducing M_w and molecular weight distribution of irradiated alginates. The distribution of oligomer fractions in irradiated products was also investigated by separation using ultrafiltration membranes. The irradiated alginate with M_w approximately 14.2 kDa was found to have a positive influence for growing of barley and soybean. The irradiated oligoalginate fraction with M_w ranging from 1 to 3 kDa displayed the strongest effect on the growth and development of the mentioned plants at low concentration (20 ppm). It is suggested that oligoalginate with M_w in the range 1–3 kDa is a trigger for the growth and development of plants.     

Crystal structure of Pb2SbS2I3, and re-examination of the crystal chemistry within the group of (Pb/Sn/Sb) chalcogeno-iodides

The crystal structure of Pb₂SbS₂I₃ was solved at room temperature and 100 K. At 293 K it crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Cmcm (No. 63), with unit cell parameters a = 4.3262(9), b = 14.181(3), c = 16.556(3) Å, V = 1017.7(4) Å³, Z = 4. The structure is disordered, and combines a split Pb site (s.o.f. = 0.50) with one mixed (Pb,Sb) site with Pb and Sb in two distinct sub-positions. At 100 K, it is monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, with unit cell parameters a = 7.3629(6), b = 16.466(3), c = 8.5939(7) Å, β = 107.14(2)°, V = 995.6(2) Å³, Z = 4. The structure is now fully ordered, without mixed sites. On the basis of bond valence calculations, new cation distributions are proposed for published structures of the Sn isotypes, Sn₂SbS₂I₃ and Sn₂SbSe₂I₃. A re-examination of the crystal structures of various (Pb/Sn/Sb) chalcogeno-iodides is presented according to modular analysis. All these structures can be described according to three types of 1D modules, (Pb/Sn)I₄, (Sn)₂I₄ and (Pb/Sn/Sb)₄(S/Se)₂I₄. Generally each type of 1D module gives one type of slab, and the final structure corresponds to a specific stacking of two or three among these slabs. A new structural model is proposed for “α-Sn₂SI₂”, which would have the non-stoichiometric composition (Sn_5.42□_0.58)S₂(I_6.87□_0.12), ideally Sn₂₇S₁₀I₃₄, with probably a narrow solid solution field on the SnS–SnI₂ joint.     

Anionic polymerization initiated by lithium amides for preparing high molecular weight polyacrylonitrile

Lithium amides have been proved to be effective anionic initiators for the anionic polymerization of acrylonitrile to get high molecular weight polyacrylonitrile in this study. Polyacrylonitrile with weightaverage molecular weight ranging from 1.02 × 10~6 g/mol to 1.23 ×10~6 g/mol (M_w/M_n= 1.9-2.2) could be prepared utilizing lithium amides derived from diisopropylamine, diethylamine, hexamethyldisilazane,dicyclohexylamine, and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine as initiators. The polymerization of acrylonitrile proceeded in a homogeneous manner in N,N-di methyl for mamide and insignificant contribution of side reactions was confirmed.     

Organo-aluminum,zinc and magnesium derivatives of the imidotris(amido)phosphate Me3SiNP(NHtBu)3

Reactions of (^tBuHN)₃PNSiMe₃ (1) with the alkyl-metal reagents dimethylzinc, trimethylaluminum and di-n-butylmagnesium yield the monodeprotonated complexes [MeZn{(N^tBu)(NSiMe₃)P(NH^tBu)₂}] (2), [Me₂Al{(N^tBu)(NSiMe₃)P(NH^tBu)₂}] (3) and [Mg{(N^tBu)(NSiMe₃)P(NH^tBu)₂}₂] (4), respectively. Attempts to further deprotonate complex 2 with n-butyllithium or di-n-butylmagnesium result in nucleophilic displacement of the methylzinc fragment by lithium or magnesium. The two remaining amino protons of 3 are removed by reaction with di-n-butylmagnesium to give a heterobimetallic complex in which the coordination sphere of magnesium is completed by two molecules of THF (5 · 2THF) or one molecule of TMEDA (5 · TMEDA). Reaction of complex 3 with 1 equiv. of n-butyllithium followed by treatment of the product with di-n-butylmagnesium yields the complex {Me₂Al[(N^tBu)(NSiMe₃)P(N^tBu)₂]MgBu} Li · 4THF (6 · 4THF), the first example of a triply deprotonated complex of 1 containing three different metals. Reaction of complex 5 with iodine results in cleavage of an Al–Me group to give {MeIAl[(N^tBu)(NSiMe₃)P(N^tBu)₂Mg]} (7). Complexes 5 · 2THF, 5 · TMEDA, 6 · 4THF and 7 have been characterized in solution by multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P and ⁷Li) NMR spectroscopy, while the solid-state structures of 2, 4 and 5 · 2THF have been determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Synthesis,structures and full characterization of p-tert-butylcalix[5]arene mono-, di-, tri- and pentaanionic ligand precursors

The synthesis, complete characterization, and solid state conformation of a new series of p-tert-butylcalix[5]arene (Bu^tC5) mono-, di-, tri- and pentaanions are reported. X-ray structures of the alkali metal salts illustrate the strong influence of the alkali metal ion on the structure of the calixanion. The strength of the alkali metal base and its reaction stoichiometry play an important role in the conformation and level of deprotonation of the resulting anion. Reaction of Bu^tC5 in a 2:1 molar ratio with alkali metal bases M₂CO₃ (M = Rb, Cs), or in a 1:1 ratio with M₂CO₃ (M = Na, K), MOH (M = Na, K, Rb, Cs) or MH (M = Li, Na) produces Bu^tC5 monoanions, but Bu^tC5 reacts in a 1:1 molar ratio with M₂CO₃ (M = Rb, Cs) or a 1:2 molar ratio with MOC(CH₃)₃ (M = Na, K) to afford Bu^tC5 dianions. Due to the steric bulkiness of the Bu^t group no polymeric structures are observed. Alkali metal salts of trianionic Bu^tC5 were obtained in high yields from reactions of Bu^tC5 with MOC(CH₃)₃ (M = Li, Na, K), BuⁿLi, LiH and LiOH in a 1:3 molar ratio. Pentaanionic Bu^tC5 salts were obtained by the reaction with MOC(CH₃)₃ (M = Li, Na, K) or BuⁿLi in a 5:1 ratio. X-ray crystal structures of Bu^tC5 · Na and Bu^tC5 · Cs indicate that the size of the alkali metal influences the level of cation-π arene interactions and therefore the conformation of the Bu^tC5 unit; for example, Bu^tC5 · Na has a cone conformation while Bu^tC5 · Cs shows a flattened cone conformation. Cation-π arene interactions are observed in most of the calixarene salts.     

Synthesis of poly(β‐pinene)‐g‐poly(meth)acrylate by the combination of living cationic polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization

New graft copolymers of β‐pinene with methyl methacrylate (MMA) or butyl acrylate (BA) were synthesized by the combination of living cationic polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). β‐Pinene polymers with predetermined molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions (MWDs) were prepared by living cationic polymerization with the 1‐phenylethyl chloride/TiCl₄/Ti(OiPr)₄/nBu₄NCl initiating system, and the resultant polymers were brominated quantitatively by N‐bromosuccinamide in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile, yielding poly(β‐pinene) macroinitiators with different bromine contents (Br/β‐pinene unit molar ratio = 1.0 and 0.5 for macroinitiators a and b , respectively). The macroinitiators, in conjunction with CuBr and 2,2′‐bipyridine, were used to initiate ATRP of BA or MMA. With macroinitiator a or b , the bulk polymerization of BA induced a linear first‐order kinetic plot and gave graft copolymers with controlled molecular weights and MWDs; this indicated the living nature of these polymerizations. The bulk polymerization of MMA initiated with macroinitiator a was completed instantaneously and induced insoluble gel products. However, the controlled polymerization of MMA was achieved with macroinitiator b in toluene and resulted in the desired graft copolymers with controlled molecular weights and MWDs. The structures of the obtained graft copolymers of β‐pinene with (methyl)methacrylate were confirmed by ¹H NMR spectra. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1237–1242, 2003     

[MoFe3S4]3+ and [MoFe3S4]2+ cubane clusters containing a pentamethylcyclopentadienyl molybdenum moiety

A series of organometallic molybdenum/iron/sulfur clusters of the general formula [Cp¹MoFe₃S₄L_n]^m (Cp¹ = η⁵-C₅Me₅; L = S^tBu, SPh, Cl, I, n = 3, m = 1−; L_n = I₂(P^tBu₃), m = 0; L = 2,6-diisopropylphenylisocyanide (ArNC), n = 7, m = 1+) have been synthesized. A cubane cluster (PPh₄)[Cp¹MoFe₃S₄(S^tBu)₃] (2) was isolated from a self-assembly reaction of Cp¹Mo(S^tBu)₃ (1), FeCl₃, LiS^tBu, and S₈ followed by cation exchange with PPh₄Br in CH₃CN, while an analogous cluster (PPh₄)[Cp¹MoFe₃S₄(SPh)₃] (3) was obtained from the Cp¹MoCl₄/FeCl₃/LiSPh/PPh₄Br reaction system or from a ligand substitution reaction of 2 with PhSH. Treatment of 2 with benzoyl chloride gave rise to (PPh₄)[Cp¹MoFe₃S₄Cl₃] (4), which was in turn converted to (PPh₄)[Cp¹MoFe₃S₄I₃] (5) by the reaction with NaI. A neutral cubane cluster Cp¹MoFe₃S₄I₂(P^tBu₃) (6) was generated upon treating 5 with P^tBu₃. Although reduction of 4 by cobaltocene under the presence of ArNC resulted in a disproportionation of the cubane core to give Fe₄S₄(ArNC)₉Cl (7), a similar reduction reaction of 5 produced [Cp¹MoFe₃S₄(ArNC)₇]I (8), where the MoFe₃S₄ core was retained. The crystal structures of 4–6, and 8 were determined by the X-ray analysis.     

Phase behaviour of binary and ternary mixtures for the poly(methyl methacrylate-co-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate) [P(MMA-co-HFBMA)] in supercritical fluorine solvents

In this study, the poly(methyl methacrylate-co-2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate) [P(MMA-co-HFBMA)] as a fluoric copolymer was prepared using dispersion polymerization in supercritical carbon dioxide. The characterization for the prepared P(MMA-co-HFBMA) was investigated with varied ratios of MMA vs HFBMA (30:1, 25:1, 22:1 and 20:1), 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) amounts (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0) wt% and the weight average molar mass (M_w).Experimental cloud-point data at temperatures to 454 K and pressures up to 184 MPa are reported for binary and ternary mixtures of P(MMA-co-HFBMA) in supercritical CH₂F₂, CHF₃ and CHClF₂. Experiments are performed in order to determine phase behaviour of binary system for the P(MMA-co-HFBMA) (mole ratio: 25:1, AIBN: (1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0) wt%) + supercritical solvents (CH₂F₂, CHF₃ and CHClF₂) mixtures at temperature range from (333 to 454) K and pressure up to 184 MPa. It appears that the {P(MMA-co-HFBMA) + CH₂F₂} mixtures show the upper critical solution temperature (UCST) type behaviour with negative slope, while the {P(MMA-co-HFBMA) + CHF₃} and {P(MMA-co-HFBMA) + CHClF₂} mixtures show lower critical solution temperature (LCST) type curve with positive slope. Cloud-point curves for the P(MMA-co-HFBMA) [mole ratio: 30:1 (M_w = 186,000 g · mol⁻¹), 25:1 (M_w = 176,000 g · mol⁻¹), 22:1 (M_w = 158,000 g · mol⁻¹) and 20:1 (M_w = 126,000 g · mol⁻¹); AIBN: 1.0 wt%) + supercritical (CH₂F₂, CHF₃ and CHClF₂) mixtures show a negative slope for the {P(MMA-co-HFBMA) + CH₂F₂}, and a positive slope for the {P(MMA-co-HFBMA) + CHF₃} and {P(MMA-co-HFBMA) + CHClF₂} mixtures at temperatures to 454 K and pressure up to 184 MPa. Also, the impact of MMA on phase behaviour for the {P(MMA-co-HFBMA) (mole ratio: 25:1; AIBN: (1.0 and 2.0) wt%) + CH₂F₂} mixtures are measured in changes of the (pressure + temperature) slope from UCST behaviour to LCST behaviour, and with MMA co-solvent concentrations of (0.0 to 40.1) wt%.     

Electronic structure and disorder in NaxCoO2 and SrRh2O4

We discuss the electronic structure of Na_xCoO₂ from the point of view of first principles electronic structure calculations. The band structure contains low spin Co ions, with average charge 5 + x leading to a nearly full Co t_2g manifold. The bands corresponding to this manifold are narrow and separated from the O 2p bands and from the e_g bands, which are also narrow. There are two main sheets of Fermi surface, a large section derived from a_g symmetry states and small hole pockets. We find significant effects due to Na disorder on these small sections, with the result that they should be localized. This is discussed in relation to recent photoemission experiments. For comparison, we present a virtual crystal band structure of beta-SrRh₂O₄. Like Na_xCoO₂ it shows a large crystal field gap between narrow t_2g and e_g manifolds, but because of its stoichiometry is a semiconductor rather than a high carrier density metal.